AoC East Midlands colleges have developed a wide range of initiatives, opportunities and programmes to engage their students in sporting activities. Projects have focused on increasing participation in physical activity and sport at all levels and developing invaluable skills through volunteering. Please see below for examples of best practice case studies from across the region.
If you have any further questions, please contact either the key contact at the college or Sarah Larnder sarah.larnder@loucoll.ac.uk
If you have any further questions, please contact either the key contact at the college or Sarah Larnder sarah.larnder@loucoll.ac.uk
College: Gateway College, Leicestershire
Project: Girls Football
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: Girls Football
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Encourage girls to play football/sport.
- Develop a girl's football team.
- Target a specific group of students.
- Be more inclusive in providing opportunities.
- Increase participation levels.
What we did
- Deployed a "Student Sports Ambassador".
- Actively promoted "girls only" football sessions.
- Organised taster sessions.
- Provided kit for the girls.
- Arranged fixtures against other colleges.
- Established a team to form the nucleus of the squad.
- Provided regular weekly coaching sessions.
Impact
- Raised aspirations.
- Motivated students.
- Overcame certain "barriers to participation".
- Raised levels of self esteem.
- Increased participation.
- Greater academic enjoyment and achievement.
- Engaged non-sporty and semi-sporty students.
- Increased opportunities for inter college competition.
College: Derby College, SE Derbyshire College
Project: Girls Inspiration Day – Sky Living
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: Girls Inspiration Day – Sky Living
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Establish girls only volunteering group.
- Increase participation levels.
- Introduce new activity.
- Engage non-sport students.
- Promote Volunteering & Leadership.
- Be more inclusive in providing opportunities.
- Improve the communication with other college groups.
What we did
- Established a Healthy Living "girls only group.
- Delivered a Community Leaders Award during the October half-term.
- Introduced new activity including, Dance, Gym, Jogging, Girls Football.
- Identified a group of girls to take part in the Youth Sport Trust, Sky Inspiration Day at Boreatton Park Shrewsbury November 10th.
- Identified partners to support the group, such as Sporting Futures, and local Competition Managers, and Residents
Impact
- Increased the self esteem of the group.
- Raised aspirations and increased
motivation levels. - Work towards awards and accredited
volunteering hours. - Raised the profile of volunteering
amongst new groups. - Targeted a "Non-Sporty" group.
- Raise the profile of FE sector.
- Provided a workforce of students to support schools, clubs, and local agencies.
- Provided recognition for "non-students".
- Provided a clear pathway for continuedvolunteering and leadership.
College: Derby College,
SE Derbyshire College, Buxton College
Project: Sport Unlimited
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
SE Derbyshire College, Buxton College
Project: Sport Unlimited
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Increase participation 16-19.
- Target girls only activity.
- Raise the profile of FE.
- Provide new opportunities – new activity.
- Link FE into the wider sporting infrastructure.
What we did
- Submitted applications across three School Sport Partnerships.
- Applications – included Dance, Climbing, and Boxercise, Boccia, and Healthy Lifestyles activity.
- Worked in partnership with County Sport Partnership and School
Partnerships. - Provided one-off sessions in Dance and Boxercise.
- Promoted to non–Sports groups across college.
- Nominated a member of staff within the Sport department for
communicating across college.
Impact
- Provided a wider catchment of students, engaging
non-sports students and the semi-sporty types. - Provided a wider range and choice of activity.
- Developed more opportunities to work in
partnership with a wider range of partners such as sports governing bodies. - Attracted additional funding to continue and
introduce new activity (£5k). - Established new partnerships.
- Greater use of facilities.
- New projects 08/09 planned.
- Formed part of the FESCo work programme.
College: Grantham College, Lincolnshire
Project: Cheerleading Taster Session
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to doTo provide a taster session of a new activity which was not a traditional sport and which would appeal to students across the College, engaging those that would not necessarily be involved in traditional sports teams especially females.
What we didWe held a two hour-session with a Cheerleading Coach who introduced students to the sport and taught them various stunts and dance steps. These were put together into a routine at the end of the session.
Project: Cheerleading Taster Session
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to doTo provide a taster session of a new activity which was not a traditional sport and which would appeal to students across the College, engaging those that would not necessarily be involved in traditional sports teams especially females.
What we didWe held a two hour-session with a Cheerleading Coach who introduced students to the sport and taught them various stunts and dance steps. These were put together into a routine at the end of the session.
ImpactThe students thoroughly enjoyed the session despite initial reservations. They learnt some new ideas, developed team skills and had great fun. We have now submitted a bid for funding to put on a series of Cheerleading sessions based on the success of the taster day.
College: Leicester College, Leicestershire
Project: Special Olympics Roadshow
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: Special Olympics Roadshow
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- Raise the profile of the special Olympics and link this with the
Volunteering strand of the PESSYP strategy. - Highlight the importance of SOL2009 and clarify the meaning of
what it comprises of.
What we did
- Worked closely with Marketing department for SOL2009 and college
staff and students. - Publicised SOL2009 roadshow at one of the main college campuses.
- Advertised on the intranet and with city-based FESCos to encourage
their students to attend.
Impact
- Students had showed an interest in the SOL2009
and completed the volunteering forms required
for SOL2009. - Raised profile of how Leicester College is
supporting this project. - On average 30 students have signed up for the
volunteering and hopefully more online!. - Article in the Leicester Mercury
highlighting the event.
College: Loughborough College, Leicestershire
Project: Inclusive Football Team
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to doTo increase the access and frequency of sporting opportunities available to our special needs department (Transitions) here at Loughborough College
What we did We kick started the Transitions Programme with the delivery of the 'Inspire To Lead Project' in partnership with the CSP.
Every Thursday morning for 8 weeks, with the help of 5 Sports Leaders, we successfully delivered the Young Leaders Award to 12 Transitions Students.
This Programme enabled the students to try a variety of sports and activities and the leadership skills they developed on the Programme improved their self esteem which then gave the Transitions Students enough confidence to join the Cross College Sports Enrichment Programme on a Wednesday lunch time (something they had not done before).
Project: Inclusive Football Team
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to doTo increase the access and frequency of sporting opportunities available to our special needs department (Transitions) here at Loughborough College
What we did We kick started the Transitions Programme with the delivery of the 'Inspire To Lead Project' in partnership with the CSP.
Every Thursday morning for 8 weeks, with the help of 5 Sports Leaders, we successfully delivered the Young Leaders Award to 12 Transitions Students.
This Programme enabled the students to try a variety of sports and activities and the leadership skills they developed on the Programme improved their self esteem which then gave the Transitions Students enough confidence to join the Cross College Sports Enrichment Programme on a Wednesday lunch time (something they had not done before).
Impact The Sports Enrichment sessions enabled the Transitions Students to develop their football skills and abilities to the point they wanted to play competitively. We therefore contacted Mary Rudkin at the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA and, as a result, we then started to participate in a local Inclusive Football League.
The festivals are purely participation-based and the students thoroughly enjoyed this inter-college set up. We have now entered 4 festivals and the interest in sport from the Transitions Students has increased dramatically to the extent we now take two teams to each festival and the students are also tapping into other sports enrichment sessions such as Dance, Gym or Basketball.
The festivals are purely participation-based and the students thoroughly enjoyed this inter-college set up. We have now entered 4 festivals and the interest in sport from the Transitions Students has increased dramatically to the extent we now take two teams to each festival and the students are also tapping into other sports enrichment sessions such as Dance, Gym or Basketball.
College: North Nottinghamshire College
Project: Inclusive Sports Inter-College Activities
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
What we did
Project: Inclusive Sports Inter-College Activities
Meeting the Challenge
What we wanted to do
- To set up a network of colleges to play a variety of inclusive sports.
To organise monthly tournaments at various venues in the county and neighbouring counties.
What we did
- Made contact with key workers at Newark College, Lincoln College and St Giles Post-16 Centre.
- Organised a series of events at the following venues:
North Notts College – 2nd October – SEN Football
Lincoln College – 22nd October – Boccia/Kurling
North Notts College – 12th November – Boccia/Kurling/Table Cricket
Portland College have agreed to play NNC at Boccia & Table Cricket on 21st January 2009.
Impact
- Young people with learning difficulties and disabilities are helped to make a positive contribution to sporting activities.
- Sports leaders/volunteers have the opportunities to provide support to the learners.
- The learners are helped to enjoy the sessions,
through competition. - Experience the winning and the losing of competitive sport.
- The promotion of inclusion throughout college.
- The health needs of young people/people
with disabilities are addressed.
